“By Eric Wilder, Cartographer, Maps.com.

It's Science Night

Last week marked an exciting time for Maps.com, as it was the culmination of the critically acclaimed Monte Vista Elementary School Science Night.

For many K-6 graders in Santa Barbara, Science Night is one of the most anticipated days of the year; Monte Vista Elementary School hosts dozens of local scientists from a wide variety of disciplines who enthusiastically share their profession with young minds of tomorrow. The evening gives students the opportunity to touch a human brain, hold a python, experience static electricity, and as of 2012, learn about MAPS!!!

As a past student of Monte Vista who vividly remembers the thrills of Science Night, I was ecstatic to see things come full circle and return 15 years later as a cartographer. Teamed up with my partner in crime, Maps 101Customer Account Specialist, Terry (also a proud Monte Vista graduate!), we prepared a presentation that we hoped would engage students and get them interested in maps.

Global Appeal

Despite the fact that the cartography exhibit was placed right next to the reptile exhibit – tough competition to say the least – it is safe to say that the kiddos were enthralled to learn about maps. Crowded around the big maps we brought with us, Monte Vista students were quickly able to spot their school’s location on a map, identify ways that the Santa Barbara area has changed in the past century using our Santa Barbara Antique Wall Map, find their California mission on our Maps 101 missions map, and discover the uses of imagery in mapmaking. You would be shocked to learn how many first, second, and third grade students have used Google Maps before!!

No, THIS is longitude, Mr.

Seeing that I once had a cartographer visit my classroom in fifth grade, we at Maps.com understand the value of introducing the science of cartography to our society’s next generation of geographers. After a very fun evening complete with prize giveaways and contests, it is without doubt that the future looks bright for the cartographers of tomorrow!

Related articles

• Cartography Can Be Fun (travelbetweenthepages.com)
• The best American wall map: David Imus’ “The Essential Geography of the United States of America” – Slate Magazine (slate.com)”

Tunisian protests lead to a change of  Government - http://maps101blog.com/2011/01/25/tunisia-a-sign-to-the-region/

GITN Special - Tunisia

21st Anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s freedom - http://maps101blog.com/2011/02/10/on-this-day-2111990-nelson-mandela-freed/

Japan hit by huge earthquake & Tsunami - http://maps101blog.com/2011/03/11/huge-earthquake-sends-tsunami-waves-across-the-pacific-ocean/

2 Corpse Flowers in rare blooming event - http://maps101blog.com/2011/04/27/a-pretty-big-stink/

Titan Arum - 'Corpse Flower'

How can we protect ourselves from the elements after massive destruction in Joplin, MO? - http://maps101blog.com/2011/05/25/can-we-protect-ourselves-from-natures-wrath/

How the census was created and what it means for Maps101 Subscribers - http://maps101blog.com/2011/08/19/the-us-census-how-why-and-something-cool-for-maps101-subscribers/

Veterans Day 11.11.11 - http://maps101blog.com/2011/11/11/11-11-11-veterans-day/

Many or all of these issues have been covered as they happened by Maps101 and the Maps101 blog. We thank you for your continued support of Maps101, your encouragement and guidance as we refine and  develop a product that reaches hundreds of thousands of students worldwide each day.  One of the main points that hits home from this video is how fast the world is changing, and how much can occur in just 365 days. We hope that you, as teachers and students, continue to find Maps101 a rewarding and useful tool  for interpreting and understanding this monumental and fast-paced change.

Related articles

• See how the world searched Google in 2011 [Video] (thenextweb.com)
• Google reveals ‘Zeitgeist’ survey of top web searches for 2011 (telegraph.co.uk)

That’s because we have been working on a new way to link our blog articles and Maps101 content.

To make the most of the great resources within Maps101, many teachers in the Social Studies and Science arenas like to take real world, topical examples and demonstrate the concepts behind them with interactive maps, videos and illustrations or utilize the lesson plans and activities of which there are THOUSANDS.

Our editors will be taking great news stories and providing you with supplemental information from Maps101 that makes these examples instantly teachable. 

For example, check out the article about how scientists have used modern technology to discover more about the fate of a giant mastodon, from a single bone discovered in the 1970s.

Following this NPR report, we have added a National Geographic video about early migration to North America, thematic maps of early civilization and prehistoric man, and a lesson plan covering archaeology.

This material is also available to non-subscribers through our brand new demo site as well as other limited Maps101 content. If you want to find out more about the great benefits of Maps101, check it out now.

Meanwhile we hope our subscribers enjoy this new feature and would be delighted to hear your comments.

While in recent times there have been differences of opinion about many of the wars and conflicts that have taken place, the bravery of those who are willing to travel to foreign lands, leaving families and friends behind, placing their lives in extreme risk cannot be underestimated.

The origins of Veterans day lie in Armistice Day, proclaimed by Woodrow Wilson in 1919 as a way of expressing gratitude for the heroism and bravery of servicemen and women who ensured the world remained free from the tyranny of the invading German army. Calving Coolidge confirmed Armistice Day as a federal holiday in 1926. In 1954 it was officially amended to Veterans Day to ensure that the day honored all veterans after the recent ending of the Korean War.

The date is chosen for its significance as the official date and time of the signing of the Armistice that officially ended World War I, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

Arlington Military Cemetary

Related articles

• From Veterans For Peace: Bells and a Song for Armistice Day/Veterans Day (peaceandbread.com)
• Veterans Day, 11.11.11. Background, Facts & Figures, Tribute Video & Poster Gallery (worldtradedaily.com)
• Armistice Day (framework.latimes.com)

Join us as we take you on a virtual webinar tour of your online resource. The tour will explore all the content that is available and how users can benefit the most out of their subscription. Plus, we will show attendees all the latest content enhancements and additions to the resource.

Learn more about your Maps101 subscription, including:

• The vast and comprehensive content available
• The latest enhancements
• The easiest ways to navigate through the Maps101 material
• How to get the most value from your Maps101 subscription

Reserve your seat in one of the following sessions:

Thursday, September 29, 2011 @ 2:00 PM – 2:40 PM PST – Register Here

Thursday, September 29, 2011 @ 3:30 PM – 4:10 PM PST – Register Here

Tuesday, October 4, 2011 @ 2:00 PM – 2:40 PM PST – Register Here

Tuesday, October 4, 2011 @ 3:30 PM – 4:10 PM PST – Register Here

The presentation will be approximately 40 minutes long with time for questions at the end. To attend, you will simply need an internet connected computer with speakers.

See you at the Webinar.

The Maps101 Team

The Bing Maps launch with 9 data layers covering all 50 states. Users can compare up to 4 layers or locations at any one time, using the color coded legend to compare and contrast. The maps also include full Bing functionality meaning that using the built in layer transparency settings, teachers and students can pinpoint specific places or geographic features on the map which may help to interpret the data.

For example, a highly populated area could be related to its location close to a water source or transport link.

The development comes as a result of consultations between subscribers and Maps101’s content development team. “Census data can provide relevance to students in history, geography, civics, and earth science among others. Our teachers wanted a visual tool that would enable them to quickly and simply display the information to the class,” revealed Rob Burns, Marketing Director for the Maps.com group who publish Maps101.

“This serves to strengthen our cross-curricular functionality and adds yet more value to a Maps101 subscription,” he continued. More data layers covering data such as income and home ownership are set to be added.  “This type of tool adds relevance and meaning to benchmark data that students are hearing about every day in the news media”.

Maps101 subscribers can access the census maps from the home page using their school or district login. Free trials are also available for educators from the site.

Then, look forward to an uber cool new feature coming to Maps101 very soon, that will give you an amazing view of the results.